Families searching for retirement homes in Fort Lauderdale mostly end up looking at assisted living and memory care, and the communities on this page are a mix of both. Together they hold more than 500 Google reviews, rated from 4.1 to 4.8. Some sit in Fort Lauderdale itself, while others are a short drive away in Lauderhill and Hollywood, still within Broward County.
Short answer: Colonial Gardens Residences in Lauderhill has the largest review base here, rated 4.8 from more than 160 Google reviews, and its site lists assisted living and memory care. The Meridian at Waterways (4.8) is a waterfront community on the Intracoastal in Fort Lauderdale. Forest Trace Senior Living in Lauderhill offers independent living, assisted living and memory care on one campus. Tour more than one and ask for current rates.
#1 Overall🕑 Open 7 days↩ Responds to reviews
Colonial Gardens Residences
4.8★★★★★168 Google reviews
Colonial Gardens Residences is an assisted living and memory care community at 2801 NW 55th Avenue in Lauderhill, serving families across Broward County. Its site lists shared rooms with private rooms available, an on-site beauty salon, three meals a day plus snacks, and English and Spanish-speaking staff. It advertises assisted living starting from $3,500 a month for a shared room.
What people praise
- Reviewers describe a clean, friendly home with kind employees
- Residents and families praise the food, including restaurant-style dining
- An administrator whose door is always open, according to one resident
- A daughter says staff keep her up to date while she travels for work
- A new resident's family says everything discussed before the move was addressed
Worth knowing
- Its site lists shared rooms, with private rooms available, so ask what is open
Reputation scorecardrank in Fort Lauderdale
Info completenesssite · phone · hours
Rating breakdown89% 5-star
✓ VerifiedSource: Google
Our take: The most reviewed community on this page, with consistent praise for food and warmth. Ask about room types and what the starting price covers.
📍2801 NW 55th Ave, Lauderhill, FL 33313
#2🕑 Open 7 days↩ Responds to reviews
The Meridian at Waterways
4.8★★★★★90 Google reviews
The Meridian at Waterways is a senior living community on East Oakland Park Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale, with a dock overlooking the Intracoastal Waterway. Its site lists supportive independent living, assisted living, memory care and short-term respite care, plus a dining room, events and wellness programs. Google tags it as an assisted living facility, retirement community and retirement home.
What people praise
- Reviewers highlight waterway views of boats and yachts
- Families mention a lively activities program led by an engaged activities director
- A wellness center and regular events, according to a visiting reviewer
- One family describes physical therapy and transport to doctor's appointments
Worth knowing
- One family advises staying actively involved with specific requests, since it takes time to settle in
Reputation scorecardrank in Fort Lauderdale
Info completenesssite · phone · hours
Rating breakdown90% 5-star
✓ VerifiedSource: Google
Our take: A good choice for families who want a waterfront setting inside Fort Lauderdale. Tour with a clear idea of the care level you expect.
📍3001 E Oakland Park Blvd, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33306
#3🕑 Open 7 days↩ Responds to reviews
Eastside Active Living and Oceanside Villas
4.6★★★★★87 Google reviews
Eastside Active Living and Oceanside Villas is a residential community at 1600 Taft Street in Hollywood. Google lists it as an apartment complex and condominium complex, while reviewers describe assisted living with studios and apartments, meals and snacks, and one reviewer mentions weekly doctor visits. Reviewers describe it as close to Hollywood Beach.
What people praise
- Reviewers praise the food and snacks between meals
- One resident says the manager makes sure their needs are met
- A reviewer says rooms are cleaned daily and linen changed often
- Another says staff are friendly and the neighbors welcoming
Worth knowing
- Google calls it an apartment complex, so confirm the level of care offered before you tour
- Google shows no website, so details come by phone
Reputation scorecardrank in Fort Lauderdale
Info completenesssite · phone · hours
Rating breakdown80% 5-star
✓ VerifiedSource: Google
Our take: A Hollywood option that reviewers place near the beach, outside Fort Lauderdale proper. Call first to confirm services, since the listing is not clear on its category.
📍1600 Taft St, Hollywood, FL 33020
#4🕑 Open 7 days↩ Responds to reviews
Belmont Village Senior Living Fort Lauderdale
4.5★★★★★78 Google reviews
Belmont Village Senior Living Fort Lauderdale is a branch of Belmont Village, on Seminole Drive. Google lists it as an assisted living facility, and one family describes a memory care neighborhood on site. One family describes a building with ocean views from a top-floor dining room, a coffee shop and a library.
What people praise
- One family calls the building beautiful and well maintained
- A resident says the staff and residents made them feel welcome on a tour
- A caregiver praises the activities in memory care, such as watercolors and trivia
- Reviewers mention good food in the main dining room
Worth knowing
- Rated 4.5, the second lowest on this page
Reputation scorecardrank in Fort Lauderdale
Info completenesssite · phone · hours
Rating breakdown79% 5-star
✓ VerifiedSource: Google
Our take: Well liked by many residents and families, but the reviews are not uniform. Ask to see the memory care area and speak to a family currently there.
📍1031 Seminole Dr, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304
#5🕑 Open 7 days↩ Responds to reviews
Forest Trace Senior Living
4.1★★★★★115 Google reviews
Forest Trace Senior Living is a community on 73 acres of preserved cypress forest in Lauderhill, overlooking a lake. Its site lists independent living, assisted living, memory care and 55+ apartments, plus temporary respite stays and snowbird rentals. Google tags it as an assisted living facility, nursing home and retirement community.
What people praise
- Reviewers praise the lake, walking paths and trees
- One resident lists on-site physical therapy and an activity director
- A family says the leasing agent was knowledgeable and caring on a tour
- A new resident calls the staff caring and the food incredible
Worth knowing
- Its 4.1 average is the lowest here, and the scorecard shows a share of 1-star ratings
Reputation scorecardrank in Fort Lauderdale
Info completenesssite · phone · hours
Rating breakdown70% 5-star
✓ VerifiedSource: Google
Our take: A fit for families who want several care levels on one campus. Visit and ask how your care plan would change if needs grow.
📍5500 NW 69th Ave, Lauderhill, FL 33319
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Claim this spot › How the scorecards work
Every number on this page comes from public Google data on the date shown, not from opinion or payment. Rating is the live Google star average. Review volume is how many families and residents have rated the community, compared with other Fort Lauderdale area senior living options. Confidence weighs the rating by that volume. Recency reflects how recently people still leave reviews. No business can pay to change these numbers.
How much do assisted living and memory care cost near Fort Lauderdale?
Senior living costs depend on room type, level of care and whether meals and services are included, so prices differ from one community to the next. The only starting price quoted on this page comes from one community’s own website and is below, and families should ask every community for a written rate sheet.
| Job | Typical price |
|---|
| Assisted living, shared room (starting price advertised by Colonial Gardens Residences) | from $3,500 / month |
Starting price taken from Colonial Gardens Residences’ own website for a shared room. It is that community’s advertised minimum, not a quote, and other communities set rates by room type and level of care, so ask each for current pricing.
Senior living around Broward County
These communities sit in Fort Lauderdale, Lauderhill and Hollywood. Colonial Gardens Residences says it serves families from Lauderhill, Fort Lauderdale, Plantation, Sunrise and Tamarac. Searching for a retirement home near me? Each listing shows a phone number and directions so you can plan a tour.
Questions to ask on a tour
- Is this independent living, assisted living, memory care, or a mix?
- What does the monthly rate include, and what costs extra?
- Are rooms private or shared, and can I choose?
- What happens if my parent’s care needs change?
- Can I speak with a current resident or family member?
- What activities, meals and transportation to appointments are offered?
Frequently asked questions
Are these communities assisted living or independent retirement homes?
Mostly assisted living and memory care. Colonial Gardens Residences lists assisted living and memory care, and Forest Trace Senior Living adds independent living and 55+ apartments. The Meridian at Waterways lists supportive independent living, assisted living and memory care, and Belmont Village is tagged as assisted living by Google.
Which of these are in Fort Lauderdale itself?
The Meridian at Waterways, on East Oakland Park Boulevard, and Belmont Village Senior Living Fort Lauderdale, on Seminole Drive, have Fort Lauderdale addresses. Colonial Gardens Residences and Forest Trace Senior Living are in Lauderhill, and Eastside Active Living and Oceanside Villas is in Hollywood.
Which communities offer short stays?
The Meridian at Waterways lists short-term respite care on its site, and Forest Trace Senior Living says it offers temporary respite care and snowbird rentals. Ask each community about minimum stays and costs.
What does assisted living cost near Fort Lauderdale?
Colonial Gardens Residences advertises assisted living from $3,500 a month for a shared room on its own site. The other communities are not priced on this page, so ask each for current rates.
Colonial Gardens Residences is the most reviewed name here and a sensible first tour, while The Meridian at Waterways suits families who want to stay in Fort Lauderdale on the water. Forest Trace is worth a look if you want several care levels on one campus. Visit at least two and ask for a written rate sheet.
